RESTORE
Restore
Soil - Composting
WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN (Standards):
Students will learn about organic fertilizers and ways to reduce the amount of waste going into the garbage cans by using scraps from the lunchroom. Students will also learn about vermicomposting by maintaining a vermicompost bin.
3-2.5 Summarize the organization of simple food chains (including the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers).
WHAT STUDENTS WILL DO:
Students will be involved in hands-on composting activities and learn ways to turn organic waste into high quality compost. Students will be chosen to collect compost materials at lunch and then dump it into the larger bin. Students will work on a rotating basis to maintain the large bin of composted materials. Classrooms will rotate our vermicomposting bin to add materials and care for the bin. Students will visit other classes to explain the compositing process.
HOW STUDENTS WILL TEACH OTHERS:
Through these activities students will be able to teach their parents and others about the importance of composting and how composting keeps materials out of landfills and helps to enrich the oil for growing vegetables and flowers, thus creating a better environment for all.
Students collect food scraps from the cafeteria and put them in our compost bins. This spring we received a donation of a tumbling compost bin, so now we have three outdoor methods of composting, as well as a vermicompost bin that classes rotate, giving us the opportunity to study which method is most efficient.
Habitat - Vegetable Garden
WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN (Standards):
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the special characterisitics and needs of plants that allow them to survive in their own distinct environments.
1.L.5B.1 Conduct structured investigations to answer questions about what plants need to live and grow (including air, water, sunlight, minerals, and space).
1.L.5B.2 Develop and use models to compare how the different characteristics of plants help them survive in distinct environments (including deserts, forests, and grasslands).
1.L.5B.3 Analyze and interpret data from observations to describe how changes in the environment cause plants to respond in different ways (such as turning leaves toward the Sun, leaves changing color, leaves wilting, or trees shedding leaves).
WHAT STUDENTS WILL DO:
Students will be involved in planting our vegetable garden and caring for the garden. Results will be measured through observation of student participation in the planting, care and harvesting of the garden.
HOW STUDENTS WILL TEACH OTHERS:
Students will teach others about our garden and the importance of what plants need to survive and thrive, as well as how gardening helps to reduce our carbon footprint.
Digging for sweet potatoes!
